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Showing results for de-escalate.
Definitions

de-escalate

[dee-es-kuh-leyt] / diˈɛs kəˌleɪt /
VERB
lessen
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate curtail decrease dilute diminish dwindle ease erode impair lighten minimize mitigate narrow shrink slacken taper off weaken
STRONG
abridge amputate attenuate clip close contract crop cut decline degrade downsize drain minify moderate soft pedal taper thin truncate
WEAK
become smaller cut back die down grow less roll back slack up slow down take the bite out take the edge off take the sting out wind down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
develop enlarge expand extend grow increase intensify irritate lengthen prolong strengthen worsen
STRONG
go up rise stretch
WEAK
raise
VERB
lower
Synonyms
STRONGEST
curtail cut cut down decrease depreciate devalue diminish downgrade knock off lessen pare scale down slash soften
STRONG
abate clip decry deflate demote devaluate downsize moderate prune shave undervalue
WEAK
cut back mark down roll back tone down write off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
develop enlarge expand extend grow increase lengthen prolong raise
WEAK
elevate heighten
VERB
subside
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate descend diminish dwindle ease ease off ebb melt peter out recede slacken wane
STRONG
collapse decline drop fall lower lull moderate quieten settle sink taper
WEAK
cave in die away let up level off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
develop enlarge expand extend grow increase prolong rise
STRONG
ascend go up

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She remained calm and spoke to him in an effort to de-escalate the situation until other family members came into the room and demanded he leave.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Earlier in the conflict, Granville expected both sides would de-escalate more quickly and the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran would end.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

When time is critical, the absence of urgency to de-escalate is itself informative.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

At PMQs, Sir Keir defended the government's handling of the issue and said the best approach involves working with others to "de-escalate the situation" in the region.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

In late January, Target signed a joint letter with dozens of other Minnesota-based businesses calling on state, local and federal officials to de-escalate tensions over immigration, but didn’t specifically call the federal actions wrong.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.